A Domestic servant's Indenture of Apprenticeship
in 1732:
The Indenture made in the twelfth day of September
in the Sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second
by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of
the Faith, etc., Annoq. Dom. 1732 Witnesseth that James Knighton and
Jacob Lawrence Churchwardens of the Parish of St.Budeaux in the County
of Devon and Mary Ffortescue Widow and Thomas Pollard Overseers of the
Poor of the said Parish by and with the consent of His Majesty's
Justices of the Peace for the said County whose names are hereunto
subscribed, have put and placed, and by those Presents do put and place
Ruth Knight a poor Child of the said Parish, Apprentice to Edmund Boger
of St. Budeaux aforesaid Yeoman with him to dwell and serve from the Day
of the Date of these Presents until the said Apprentice shall accomplish
her full Age of twenty one years or be married according to the Statute
in that Case made and provided During all which term, the said
Apprentice her said Master faithfully shall serve in all lawful
Business, according to her Power, Wit and Ability; and honestly, orderly
and obediently in all Things demean and behave herself towards her said
Master and all his during the said term And the said Edmund Boger for
himself and his Executors and Administrators doth Covenant and Grant to
and with the said Churchwardens and Overseers and every one of them, and
every of their Executors and Administrators, and their and every of
their Successors for the time being, by these Presents
That the said Edmund Boger the said Apprentice in
House-wifery shall teach and instruct or cause to be taught and
instructed And shall and will, during all the term aforesaid, find,
provide and allow into the said Apprentice, meet competent, and
sufficient Meat, Drink and Apparel, Lodging, Washing and all other
things necessary and fit for an Apprentice And also shall and will so
provide for the said Apprentice, that she be not any way a Charge to the
said Parish or Parishioners of the same; but of and from all Charge
shall and will save the said Parish and Parishioners harmless and
indemnified during the said term
And at the end of the said term, shall and will
make, provide, allow and deliver unto the said Apprentice double Apparel
of all sorts, good and new (that is to say) a good new Suit for the
Holy-days, and another for the Working-days.
IN WITNESS whereof, the Parties
above said to these
present Indentures interchangeably have put their Hands and Seals the
Day and Year above written.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
Thomas
Stephens
George
Voisey
Edmund
Boger
We whose names are subscribed Justices of the
Peace of the County aforesaid (Quor: unum) consent to the putting forth
of the said Ruth Knight, Apprentice, according to the Intent and Meaning
of the Indenture abovesaid.
John
Elford
Thomas
Pyne
